TCU Women Break School Record in the 4x400 Meter RelayFlyin' Frogs Compete at Oklahoma Invitational

Marquita Davis

April 16, 2005

Norman, Oklahoma -
The TCU women broke the school record in the 4x400 meter relay by more than three seconds, highlighting the Flyin' Frogs efforts at the 36th running of the John Jacobs Invitational on the University of Oklahoma campus on Saturday.

The TCU quartet of Marquita Davis, Deborah Jones, Donita Harmon and Nathandra John posted an NCAA regional qualifying time of 3:33.76 to finish third behind Baylor and Barton County. The previous school record was 3:37.03, set last season by Larissa Bakasa, Deborah Jones, Jamee Jones and Harmon. It was the first time that Davis and Harmon have competed during the 2005 outdoor season, as they have both been hampered by injuries.

"That was the highlight of the meet," said TCU head coach Darryl Anderson. "We finally got a respectable time in the mile relay. It was good to get Marquita and Donita running again and they ran well. Overall it was a good day for us," continued Anderson. "The women are really starting to come on while the men just keep getting better. We're looking forward to being able to run on our home track next weekend."

Junior Jackson Langat was the star on the men's side by setting a stadium record in the 800 meter run with a winning time of 1:47.25. Freshman Jacob Hernandez was fifth in the race, breaking the tape in 1:48.77. Both marks were better than the NCAA regional standard. In addition, Langat and Hernandez each ran a leg on the Frogs' 4x400 meter relay squad that placed second behind Baylor, stopping the clock in 3:06.39, also a regional qualifying time.

Senior Cleavon Dillon won the 100 meter dash in an NCAA regional qualifying time of 10.43 seconds. Dillon also anchored the 4x100 meter relay team that placed third with a regional qualifying mark of 40.2h.

Senior Brett Wilson ran an NCAA regional qualifying time of 47.14 to place fourth in the 400 meter dash. He also ran the anchor leg on the 4x4 relay.

On the women's side, Nathandra John turned in a personal best time of 53.70 seconds to finish second in the 25-person 400 meter dash field. Her time bettered the NCAA regional standard of 54.61. John also ran the leadoff leg on the 4x100 meter relay unit that finished second with a regional qualifying time of 44.79.

Sophomore MaKeatha Cooper captured the gold medal in the 100 meter hurdles with a winning time of 13.54 seconds, which was well below the NCAA regional standard of 13.95.

Freshman Halie Bullin won the women's 3000 meter run in a time of 10:03.62.

The Frogs will return to the track next Saturday, April 23, when they compete in the Sixth Annual TCU Invitational, which will be held at the Lowdon Track and Field Complex on the TCU campus.